Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at the event, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi elaborated on the scholarly, ethical, and social dimensions of the late ayatollah's personality, describing him as a scholar who combined knowledge and jurisprudence with humility, asceticism, detachment from worldly affairs, worship, morality, and service to the people.
A lasting legacy built on action, not just learning
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi stressed that when speaking of great scholars, their personalities should not be reduced to their academic standing, the number of their works, or their students alone. "A significant part of a scholar's personality is revealed in his behavior, ethics, way of life, connection with the people, and commitment to what he preaches," he said.
The seminary professor noted that a person may study for years and reach high academic ranks, but what makes a scholar enduring is when knowledge manifests in his life and people can see its results in his conduct and character.
He emphasized the educational role of religious scholars, saying that a person is not built merely by reading books or listening to lectures. "Seeing a scholar who acts upon what he says has a profound impact. Sometimes the behavior of a teacher is more influential in training a student than dozens of lessons and lectures."
Scholars as practical role models
Referring to the personality of Ayatollah Sheikh Morteza Haeri, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi noted that some of his students said if their religious beliefs and path remained firm throughout their lives, it was not only due to books and lessons, but because they observed a practical role model in their teacher.
He added that one of the most important effects of great scholars' presence in the seminary is the training of a generation that does not separate knowledge from ethics and action. "When a student sees humility, piety, sincerity, simplicity, and concern for people in his teacher alongside lessons and discussion, these traits leave their mark on his personality."
A rare humility
Describing Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's humility, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi said that despite his high scholarly and jurisprudential standing, he never placed himself at the center and was not one to promote his own personality.
He recalled that in a collection of memoirs about great scholars, a section had been written about Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's personal life, but he refused to allow its publication. "His view was that the lives of other great figures deserve to be recorded and introduced, but he saw no necessity for this regarding his own life."
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi described this as a sign of the utmost humility, saying it shows that the higher a person rises in knowledge and spirituality, the less he seeks to promote himself—if he has truly attained knowledge and awareness. He said such behavior is highly instructive for today's seminary generation, as one may become caught up in seeking visibility instead of service, while the lives of great scholars show that true knowledge is accompanied by modesty and detachment from titles and status.
A distinguished scholarly standing
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi stressed that speaking of Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's humility should not lead to overlooking his scholarly and jurisprudential standing. He was one of the outstanding scholarly figures of the seminary and studied and researched for long years under great masters.
He noted that Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani was an authority in jurisprudence, principles, and especially in rijal (biographical evaluation of hadith narrators), and those familiar with the seminary's scholarly atmosphere and his works knew his standing.
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi pointed to the ayatollah's long attendance in the lessons of Ayatollah Mohaqeq Damad, saying this extended scholarly connection played an important role in shaping his academic and jurisprudential personality. He also referred to statements by senior seminary figures about Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani, which he said show his distinguished position in various scholarly fields, particularly jurisprudence, principles, and rijal.
Knowledge inseparable from ethics
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi stated that knowledge without ethics cannot serve as a complete model for society, emphasizing that Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's important characteristic was that he did not separate knowledge from ethics.
Alongside his scholarly standing, his life was full of signs of humility, simplicity, avoidance of position and status, and detachment from worldly appearances. "When one examines the life of a scholar, one should see what effect this knowledge had on his life," he said. "Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani enjoyed a very high scholarly standing while his personal life was simple and far from luxury."
He added that the ayatollah's home and lifestyle over many years showed he was not seeking to expand his material life and personal possessions, and did not use his scholarly and social standing for greater comfort and luxury.
Service to the people
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi described service to the people as another outstanding feature of Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's life, saying a religious scholar can find his true place in society when he sees the people alongside him and spends time responding to their needs.
Recalling memories of the ayatollah's presence during Hajj season, he said Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani would sit for long hours in Masjid al-Haram, where various people—from clerics and scholars to ordinary pilgrims—would approach him for questions and to benefit from his presence. He patiently answered people's questions, and this connection with the people was part of his way of life. Responding to people and solving their scholarly and religious problems was a serious responsibility for him.
Worship and prayer
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi listed devotion to worship and prayer as another dimension of Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's life, noting his special commitment to congregational prayer and presence at the holy shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (peace be upon her).
According to transmitted memoirs, this commitment continued for long years, and congregational prayer and connection with the people were an important part of his life alongside scholarly activity and teaching. He also led congregational prayers at the Feyziyeh School, and this continuous presence reflected the place of worship in his lifestyle. Reports of his remarks have documented Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's roughly 50-year commitment to congregational prayer at the holy shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh and his presence at Feyziyeh.
Humility revisited
Returning to the theme of humility, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi said one of the most important points about Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani is that despite all his scholarly and social standing, he never made himself the main subject.
He noted that when one reads Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's memoirs of past scholars, one sees that he always highlighted other great figures and spoke of their qualities, while dealing with himself cautiously and humbly. "Even in narrating memoirs and compiling biographies, this spirit is visible; he was not willing to use his position to introduce himself."
Preserving scholarly heritage
Referring to Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's scholarly works and manuscripts, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi said he had a valuable collection of scholarly works and manuscripts, part of which was made available to academic centers for preservation and use by researchers. His attention to scholarly heritage, alongside years of teaching and training students, showed his serious commitment to the continuity of seminary knowledge.
Respected across different spectrums
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi noted that one of Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's important characteristics was that his personality was not limited to a particular group or faction, and people with different views respected him.
This standing cannot be explained merely by his title of Marja’iyyah or scholarly position, he said, but rather by his ethics, humility, impartiality in dealing with people, and paternal behavior toward students and visitors. Many people considered Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani a figure with whom they could speak calmly and confidently and raise their issues.
Attention to family and those around him
Referring to memoirs from Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's personal life, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi said that alongside his scholarly and social activities, his emotional connection with family, teachers, students, and those around him was also noteworthy.
In the memoirs transmitted from him, loyalty and affection toward relatives and attention to their circumstances are clearly visible, showing that the personality of a great scholar is not summed up in the school, mosque, and lesson, but also manifests in family life and personal relationships.
A legacy to be passed to the new generation
In concluding remarks, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi stressed that today, more than ever, there is a need to introduce practical role models for the younger seminary generation, and Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani's life can be considered in this regard.
"The new seminary generation should know that reaching scholarly standing does not only mean increasing memorized information and knowledge; a religious scholar must also cultivate ethics, humility, simplicity, worship, service to the people, and a sense of social responsibility alongside knowledge," he said.
He added that if seminaries want to preserve the legacy of great scholars, publishing their scholarly works alone is not enough; their conduct and lifestyle must also be explained for future generations.
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Qomi noted that Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani combined a set of qualities in his life: on one hand, he was an outstanding jurist and authority; on the other, he was humble and simple in his personal life. On one hand, he was committed to scholarly matters and training students; on the other, he made time to respond to the people.
"What remains from Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani for the seminary and society is not only a collection of scholarly works, but a practical way of life in which knowledge is accompanied by ethics, jurisprudence by humility, worship by social responsibility, and scholarly standing by service to the people. Introducing these dimensions can be the best way to present the personality of that late scholar to future generations."
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